Organisers of the Motatapu off-road event, in Queenstown on March 8, are calling for more volunteers for the event's 10th anniversary.
Starting in Glendhu Bay, Wanaka, and finishing at Butler's Green, Arrowtown, the annual race traverses the Motatapu Valley, which is open to the public only once a year, for the event.
About 160 volunteers are needed for numerous roles and locations including marshalling, manning aid stations and handing out finishing packs to competitors.
Volunteer co-ordinator Nicole Fairweather said she encouraged people of allages to sign up.
''Some aid stations are quite remote, with volunteers camping overnight, and so they get to see some amazing scenery and thousands of inspiring athletes competing,'' Ms Fairweather said.
''It's such a unique course, it's a real treat in be in that environment. The competitors are always very friendly and extremely grateful to the volunteers for giving up their time to help.''
The off-road sporting event attracts notable local and national athletes, who have included Wanaka-based Jess Simson, Braden Currie and Xterra world champion Nicky Samuels.
All volunteers who give eight or more hours of their time will receive a Motatapu Icebreaker T-shirt and goodie bag and can attend a volunteers' ''thank you'' party.
The 2013 Motatapu event attracted a record number of competitors and entries for all categories in this year's fixture close on February 12.
Entries for the Speight's Summit Mountain Bike category closed in record time, but there is still space for the Icebreaker Off-Road Marathon, Arrowtown.com 15km Miners Trail and Xterra UDC Finance Triathlon events.
• To volunteer, email Ms Fairweather on volunteer@motatapu.org.nz or register on the Motatapu website.
